Try

=COUNTIF(INDIRECT(A1),A2)

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HTH

Bob Phillips

"tony" wrote in message
...
using excel 2007
I am trying to set up a countif function that can easily be used by basic
excel users.

what i want to do is have a couple of cells where the users type the text
they want to search for and in which column, the countif formula would be
in
a seperate cell and would use the user entered values as the 'range' and
'criteria' values. Basically a countif function that doesnt require the
users
to manipulate the formula for each new search.

the data is held on sheet 1 (approx 1000 rows), the user will enter values
on sheet 2.
eg user types A:A and postgrad

Then countif formula picks up these values and counts on sheet 1, col A
for
the entry 'postgrad'